Slide feeder for match machines



Aug. 24 1926.

1.. E. PARKER SLIDE FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 29, 1924 ,fimgo 2% 9 W26.

L. E. PARKER sum; FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES Filed May 29, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 atented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUGIAN E. PARKER, OF WADSWOBTH, OHIO, ASSIGNOB TO THE OHIO HATCH COIYANY, OF WAISWOBTH, OHIO, A. CORPORATION 01' OHIO.

SLIDE FEEDER FOR MATCH MACHINES.

Application fled Kay 29, 1324. Serial No. 718,875. I In the boxing of matches, especially where. of construction and arrangement of arts,

automatic machinery is used for the purpose, as I will proceed now to explain and ally it is desirable to provide a continuous fee claim.

of the boxes and their complemental slides In the accompanyingl drawings illustratto the boxing machine in order that its 0 ing the invention, in t e severa figures of oration may be continuous and may not which like parts are similarly designated,

interrupted owing to a cessation of the sup- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device ply of the complemental parts of the boxes. of my invention. Fig. 2 is a front eleva- Obviously, where the box parts, namely tion thereof. Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragthe boxes and slides, are supplied in bulk, mentary transverse section taken in the they are in haphazard arrangement, and plane of line 3-3, Fi 1. Fig. et-is an some means must be provided for arrangenlarged fragmentary ongitudinal section ing them in systematic, uniform order before of the discharge end of the feeder trough they are fed to the boxing machine, so that and associated mechanism. Fig. 5 is an entheir hand manipulation may be in great larged fragmentary longitudinal section of part dispensed with. the mechanism for agitating the slides as The device of this invention is adapted they are fed-to the trough and for turning particularly for the handling of the match those resting in the pat s upon their ends box slides, for the purpose of arran ing to a position therein upon their sides:

9 them in the desired uniform order for t eir A hopper 1 havin a front and sides, but subsequent introduction into the boxing maopen atthe rearan at its top and bottom chine. is suitably mounted upon an ordinary pipe The invention consists broadly in a hopframework 2. This hopper is provided with per adapted to receive a uantity of slides a bottom comprising a plurality of belts 3 55 in a haphazard mass an rovided with travelin upon similar rollers 4 and 5 means whereby they may i e discharged mounte upon shafts 6 and 7 carried adjatherefrom at will onto an inclined feeder cent to the front and rear ends of the hoptrough having a plurality of separated paths r respectively. The shaft 6 is provided arranged to receive the slides upon their wlth a hand wheel 8 carrying a plurality sides or ends, and incapable of receiving of spoke extensions'or hand grips 9 ywhich them in any other positidn, means being ltand the shaft'6 maybe turned by an opassociated with the trough for agitatin the crater for the purpose of causing the belts, slides fed thereto from the hopper an for 3 to travel simultaneously in the direction causing them to to be deposited in proper oof the arrow, Fig. 1, to cause a number of 35 sition in the paths, means for causing sli es the slides resting upon the belts to be disdeposited in the paths ugpn their ends to char d from the rear end of the hopper. be turned therein upon t eir sides, means Be ow this hopper an carried preferably for agitatin the slides as and after they upon the same framework 2 at an incl ne are deposite in the paths for causing them sufficient to cause slides dropping therein 40 to move in a predetermined direction therefrom-the hopper to slide down it by gravity, in, means for changing the position of said is a feeder trough 10 provided with a pluslides during their travel in said paths ralit of partition members (see articwhereby they will continue their travel upon 'ular y Fig. 3) so relatively arrange as to their tops or bottoms. rather than upon provide between their adjacent faces, paths 46 their sides, means associated with the dis- -12 of a width capable of receiving: slides charge end of each of said aths for arupon their sides or ends, but incapable of resting the travel of the sli es therein in receiving them upon their tops or bottom uniform alignment, and means for simultaor in other undesirable ositions. Thesei neously advancing'a row of slides comprispartition members 11 are veiled to form l0 ing one slide from each of said paths, wheresharp extremities upon their upper ed es'13- by a lurality of slides is discharge from for the purpose of causing slides alling 10! said eeder" trough in predetermined uniupon them to tilt by gravit either to one" form arrangement, as desired; and the inside or the other so as to fal into the paths- .vention consists, further, invarious details 12 between them, and alternate partition p which rotate in members are provided upon these bevelled edges with longitudinally extending cap pieces 14 arranged for reciprocation longitudinally thereof and thereby ada ted to agitate the slides resting thereon. ach path is provided with a longitudinally reciprocating bottom member 15 adapted to aid gravity in thefeeding of the slides down the paths. The cap pieces 14 and the bottom members 15 are connected for simultaneous reciprocation by means of a transverse frame member 16 connected by links 17 with the straps 18 of eccentrics 19. These eccentrics are carried upon opposite ends of a transverse shaft 20 driven through a sprocket and chain gearing 21 from a shaft 22 adapted to be connected by a clutch 23 (Fig. 2) withany appropriate source of power, such as one of the rotating shafts (notshown) of the match machine.

As will be seen, particularly by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, t terminates at a point substantially in line with the shaft 20 and the paths 12 are continned therefrom by means of arcuate guides 24 which serve to turn the slides from their positions resting upon their sides to positions resting upon their tops or bottoms. This turning is accomplished by gravity as the slides travel down ralit of reci rocating members 24' is provided for ai ing the slides in turning to the desired position. These members 24 are supported by a bar 25 carried in links 26 connected with'the straps 18 of the eccentrics 19 and reci rocated thereby.

In order that s ides which enter the paths upon their ends may be turned upon their sides, I provide the shaft 20 with a plurality of finned members 27, one for each path, the direction of the arrow,

Fig. 5, and the fins of which come in contact with the boxes to turn them over upon their sides.

As will be seen by reference particularly to Figs. 1 and 5, a barrier 28 extends across the trough at a point adjacent to the ends of the partition members 11. This barrier is for the urpose or stopping all slides which may feed down the trough upon the tops of the partition members without falling between them into the paths. 12. In order to so agitate these slides that they may be thrown back and as will cause them to enter the paths, I provide a plurality of reciprocating fingers 29, one above each partition member, carried upon a shaft 30 mounted in suitable bearings upon the partition member 28 and reciprocated by means of a lever 31 connected by a link 32 with a crank 33 carried b a pulley 34. This pulleyis driven by a It 35 from a pulley 36 on the shaft 20. The fingers 29 are made adjustable at 37 so that they may be raised and lowered with respect e partition members 11' the paths, and a plube again presented to such action to their pivots to provide for proper clearance in relation to the partition members.

As the slides leave the guides 24, they travel upon members 38 which provide con.- tinuations of the paths and convey the slides to the point of discharge from the paths. These members 38 are provided with sides 39 which keep the slides separated so as to cause them to move in their paths, and these sides terminate adjacent to the discharge ends of the members 38 and are suplemented by means of movable spacer members 40 carried by a transverse rod 41 mounted in arms 42 pivoted upon a bar 43. When the slides reach the position inthe aths indicated by the dotted lines at a, 1g. 4, their movement is arrested by means of light spring fingers 44, but in reaching this position, they pass beneath pushers 45 which are, like the link members 40, carried by the bar 41, and are movable therewith. These pushera 45 are provided with ofiset shoulders 46 and hold-down portions 47 for engagement with the slides, and are counterbalanced ,by weights 48 so as to be easily raised by the slides to permit the slides to pass under them by gravity and assume the position a, above mentione Communicating with the discharge ends of all of the paths as defined by the ends of the members 38 is a trough 49, and, if desired, this trough may be provided with a feed belt '50 arranged on suitable ulleys 51 at its ends and constantly driven y bevel geari and chain and s rocket gearing 53, 54 mm the shaft 20. Tlib trough 49 is continued by means of a chute 55 into which the slides are fed from the trough and by which they are conveyed to the boxing mac e.

The bar 41 and with it the link members 40 and pushers 45 may be actuated by means of a handle 56, or by means of a treadle 57 held in normal retracted position by sprin 58 and its movement limited by any suitable stops 59.

The 0 eration of the device is as follows: S ides are deposited in a mass in the hopper 1, and are fed therefrom into the feeder trough 10 by turning the shaft 6 by means of the hand wheel 8 or its that the belts 3 travel in the direction of the arrow. As the slides drop upon the partition members 11, and upon the reciprocating cap pieces 14, they will be agitated, and, owing to the beveled edges of the partition mom bers and cap pieces will be caused to fall therefrom and into the paths 12, wherein they will rest upon the bottom members 15. As hereinbefore pointed out, the paths 12 are of such dimensions that the slides can onl fall into same in such position they rest either upon their sides or upon their ends, and any slides which cannot so enter the paths will be carried down the trough upon the" tops of the partition members until theyips9so influence of the longitudinal reciprocation their sides.

of the bottom members 15, and due to the action of gravity, will come in contact with the rotating finned members 27 the fins of which will turn them onto the1r sides. It will thus be seen that no slides may emerge from the portions of the paths determinedby the partition members 11 unless they are properly positioned therein resting upon Passin from the portion of the paths determine by the partition members 11, the slides will come in contact with arcuate guide members 24 and will, due to the curvature of these members, be turned to a position wherein they are resting either upon their tops or bottoms, and will continue their movement down the trough in' this osition.

When the slides leave the arcuate guides, they run upon the members 38 and slide down same, passing under the pushers until they are stopped by frictional engage-. ment with them of the spring fingers 44. This position is indicated, as above pointe out, by the dotted lines at a.

Obviously it is possible that there may be some aths which will receive no slides, -but this is immaterial. Each of the paths which does receive slides will have a slide in it which'has assumed the position indicated at a, and if there 'are other slides in the path behind the thus positioned slide,

they will be held back by it, and by the pusher 45.

In order to discharge a series of slides from the position a into the trough 49, it is only necessary for the operator to pull upon the lever 56 by hand, or to press upon the treadle 57 with her foot. Either one of these actions will cause the arms 42 to swing about their pivot 43 and carry forward the spacer members 40 and the pushers 45. x The pushers 45 in moving forward will advance a series of slides into the trough 49, and the spacer members 40, being advanced with the slides, will keep them properly alined, in the trough. Now, upon retraction of the pushers and link members by the sprin s 58, upon release of the handle 56 or treadle 57,

Q the belt 50 will be free to carry the series of slides deposited upon it in the trough 49 along the trough and into the chute 55 the rig t hand side of the machine and by means of it pushing the whole series along.

the trough and into the chute 55. As will be apparent, when a series of slides is being disc arged into the trough, those in the paths behind the series discharged will slide into and assume the position a just vacated,

and upon retraction of the pushers ano.

spacer members 45 and 40 respectively, these members will again take their proper positions with respect to this new series of slides.

Of course, as the quantity of slides in the feeder trough becomes depleted as series of slides are fed from it into the trough 49, an additional'supply may be introduced into the feeder trough by repetition of the manipulation of the hand wheel 8 to discharge more slides from the hopper.

By this arrangement I am enabled to continuously feed slides in uniform predetermined arrangement for introduction into the boxing machine, without hand manipulation other than that necessary to supply the hopper 1, the slides in their passage down the feeder trough automatically as- 'suming the position in which it is desired "case, it is immaterial whether the top or the bottom is uppermost. but. in the latter case,

it is essential that the tops shouldbe uniformly arranged. Inasmuch as I depend primarily upon the action of gravity for I turning the slides from positions upon their '4 sides, to positions upon their tops or bottoms by means of the arcuate guide members 24, it will be seen that, due to the added weight of the top of the slide incident to the extra label pasted thereon, the top will gravitate to the bottom of the path and the bottom of the'slide will be uppermost.

. My device makes possible the uniform arranging of slides with much greater facility and rapidity than they can be arranged by hand, thereby making possible the automatic supplying of slides to a boxing machine without interruption, and consequently without intermittent stopping of the boxing machine to replenish the supply of slides therefor.

I have shown and described a particular embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that various changes may be made therein, and I therefore wish it understood charging a plurality of said slides com risa ding gravity I an inclined feeder trough ada that I do not consider my invention as thereby limited, except as hereinafter pointed out in the claims.

What I claim is 1.. In a slide feeder for match machines, a feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, partition members defining a plurality of paths in said trough, means mounted upon said partition members and reciprocable thereon for causing said slides to assume a predetermined arrangement in said paths, and means for simultaneously discharging a plural ty of said slides from said trough in uniform alignment.

2. In a slide feeder for match machines, a feeder trou h adapted to receive a mass of slides in 1a hazard arrangement, partition members efining a plurality of paths in said trough, means carried b said members and reciprocable thereon or -agita'tin said slides and thus causing them to fal into said paths in predetermined arrangement, means for causin feeding of the thus arranged slides towar the discharge ends of said paths, and means for simultaneously discharging a plurality of said slides from said paths in uniform arrangement and alignment.

3. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a mass of slides in ha hazard arrangement, partition members iidfining a plurality of slide-receiving paths in said trough,

' means carried by said members and recipro- .;able thereon for a tating said slides and causing them to fal into said paths in predetermined position, means arranged in the bottoms of said paths for thereafter agitating said slides to aid gravity in feeding them toward the discharge ends of the paths, .and means for simultaneously dising one from each of said paths in uni orm alignment.

4. In a slide feeder for matchmachines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, partition members defining a plurality of slide-receiving paths in said trough, means carried by said members and reciprocable longitudinally thereof for agitating said sl des and causing them to fall into said paths upon their sides or ends, means for turning the slides resting upon their ends to positions resting upon their sides, means reciprocablc in said paths for in the feeding of the slides down the pat s, and means adjacentto the discharge ends of said paths for simultaneously discharging a series of slides from said paths in uniform arrangement.

5. In a slide feeder for match machines,

to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arran ement, means defining a plurality of pat s capable of receiving slides upon their sides or ends but not otherwise, means for agitatin said slides to cause them to fall into sai paths, means for causing all slides in said paths to assume positions there n upon their sides, means for causing the thus arranged slides to be turned from ositions upon their sides to positions upon t eir tops or bottoms and means adjacent to the dis charge ends of said paths for simultaneously d scharging a series of slides comprising one slide for each slide-holding path in predetermined uniform arrangement.

6. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, partition members defining a plurality of slide receiving aths, reciprocable means carried by said members for agitating said slides and causing them to fall into said paths in redetermined position, means for arresting movement of slides which do not enter said paths and for returning same to a point in said trough from which they may be reintroduced into said paths, means for causing said slides to travel down said paths to their dischar e ends, means adjacent to said dischar e ends for arresting such tavel, and means or discharging said slides from said paths in uniform predetermined arrangement.

7. In a slide feeder for match machines, a feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of partition members arranged lon itudinally of said trough and forming pat s for the reception of said slides in reetermined position, cap pieces carrie b said members and reciprocable longitudinally thereof to a 'tate said slides and cause them to fall into said paths, bottom members arranged in said paths and longitudinally reci rocable therein to aid in the feeding of sli es resting on them, means for imparting reciprocation to said cap pieces an bottom members, means for arresting the movement of said slides at the discharge ends of said paths in uniform ali nment, and means for simultaneously d sc ar ing a plurality of slides comprismg one rom each path in uniform arrangement.

8. n a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to'receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, a plurality of path-forming partition members arranged longitudinal- .y of said trough and so spaced as to permit slides tofall therebetween only upon their sides or ends, means for aiding avity in causing the travel of said slides drawn said paths, means for causing all the slides resting on their ends to turned upon their sides, an arcuate gu de member for each path adapted to turn the slides theretill from each path in uniform predeterminedarrangement.

9. In a slide feeder for match machines,-

an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of slide receiving" paths, means for agitating said slides and causing them to fall into said paths in predetermined position means for causing said slides to trav down said paths to theirdischarge ends spring fingers arranged adjacent to sai discharge ends and under which said slides gravitate for arresting the travel of the slides, and means comprising a plurality of simultaneously operable pushers for dislod ing the slides from beneath said fingers an discharging the slides from said paths in uniform predetermined arrangement.

10. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of slide receiving paths means for agitating said slides and causing them to fall into said paths in predetermined position, means for causing said slides to travel down said paths to their discharge ends, means adjacent to said discharge ends for arresting such travel, means comprising a pluralit of simultaneously operable ushers for discharging said slides from said paths in uniform predetermined arrangement, and means for maintaining the thus discharged slides temporaril in alignment.

ll. ln a slide eeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to re ceive 1a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of slide receiving paths, means for agitating said paths in predetermined position means for causing said slides to travel down said paths to their discharge ends, means adjacent to said discharge ends for ousl arresting such travel, means com rising a plurality of simultaneously 0 ladle pushers for discharging said all es from said paths in uniform predetermined arrangement, and means comprising a plurality of spacer members for maintaining the thus discharged slides temporarily in alignment.

12. In a slide feeder for match machines, an inclined feeder trough adapted to receive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of slide receiving paths, means for agitating sa d slides and causm them to fall into said paths in predetermined position, means for causin said slides to travel down said paths to en discharge ends, means adjacent to said discharge ends for arresting such travel, means comprising a plurality of simultaneously operable pushers for discharging said slides from and paths in uniformpredetermined arrangement,v and means comprising a pluralit of. simultanetainmg the thus discharged slides temporarily m all out. I

13. In a slide feeder for match machines,

operable spacer mom are for maiu- 1 an inclined feeder trough adapted to re-.

ceive a plurality of slides in haphazard arrangement, means defining a plurality of slide receiving paths means for agitating sa d slldes and causing them to 'fall into said paths in predetermined position, means for causin said slides to travel down said paths to t eir discharge ends, means adjacent to said discharge ends for arresting such travel, means com' rising a plurality of. slmultaneously opera le pushers for dis charging said slides from said paths in uniform predetermined arrangement,

ously operable acer members actuated in unison with sea pushers for maintaining the thus dlscharged slides temporarily in 'aliawl said slides and causing them to all into i l: testimonywhereof I have hereunto ieggA my hand th s 27th day of May A D.

LtJCIAN E. PAR

and means comprising a plurality of simultane- 

